UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song  29 Aug 2026 · Oriental Sports Center, Shanghai, China, CN

Cam Nelson defeats Ding Meng by unanimous decision

Loss Ding Meng 35-11-0
Win Cam Nelson 8-1-0
Unanimous decision

Round 3 · 5:00

Ding Meng vs Nelson — Welterweight · UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song

Predictions summary

What happened

The result, the defining moments, and what the verdict means.

UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs Song took place live from Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, China on August 29, 2026.

Here is how the judges saw every round inside Oriental Sports Center.

Pre-fight analysis — how we saw it going in

Case for Ding Meng

Forty-five professional fights and twenty-eight knockouts: Ding Meng has finished thirty of his thirty-five wins, and only nine of his bouts have ever reached the judges. The seam is underneath him — four of his ten defeats are submissions.

Case for Nelson

Nelson is eight fights into a career and four of his seven wins are submissions, which is precisely how Ding Meng has lost four times. He has won four straight and has never been finished, by anyone, in any way.

What We Were Watching For

  • Forty-five fights against eight — Ding Meng has competed more than five times as often as Nelson.
  • Twenty-eight of Ding Meng's thirty-five wins are knockouts; four of Nelson's seven are submissions.
  • Four of Ding Meng's ten defeats are submissions, and submissions are what Nelson does.
  • Nelson has won four straight and has never been stopped; Ding Meng has been stopped twice by strikes.
Records & career stats
Ding Meng vs Nelson
35-10-0
Record
7-1-0
—
Recent formRecent formWin–loss record over the fighter’s last five bouts, newest first, as carried in their UFC/FightMetric career stats.
—
China
Nationality
Canada
31
Age
28
1.88 m
Height — Ding Meng leads
1.83 m
185 cm
Reach
Not published
—
StanceStanceWhich side a fighter leads from — a striking term, not a religious one. Orthodox: right-handed, left foot and hand forward (the common default). Southpaw: the mirror image, right side forward (usually a left-hander). Switch: changes between the two during a fight.
—
86%
Finish rateFinish %Finish rateThe share of a fighter’s wins that ended inside the distance — by KO/TKO or submission — rather than going to the judges’ scorecards. Higher means more finishes.
—
28
Wins by KO/TKOKO wins — Ding Meng leads
2
2
Wins by submissionSub wins — Nelson leads
4
3.4
Sig. strikes landed / minStr / min — Ding Meng leadsSignificant strikes landed per minuteAverage number of significant strikes a fighter lands for every minute of fight time — a read on striking output and pace. From UFC/FightMetric career stats.
2.73
3.8
Sig. strikes absorbed / minAbs / min — Nelson leadsSignificant strikes absorbed per minuteAverage number of significant strikes a fighter takes for every minute of fight time. Lower is better — it means they get hit less often. From UFC/FightMetric career stats.
2.6
49%
Striking defenseStrike def.Striking defenseThe percentage of opponents’ significant strikes that do not land — strikes slipped, blocked or evaded. Higher is better. Not the same as striking accuracy, which counts your own strikes that land. From UFC/FightMetric.
51%
64%
Takedown defenseTD def. — Nelson leadsTakedown defenseThe percentage of opponents’ takedown attempts that are stuffed. Higher means harder to put on the mat. From UFC/FightMetric.
100%
15:00
Avg. fight timeAvg. timeAverage fight timeThe mean length of the fighter’s bouts (minutes:seconds) — a rough read on whether they tend to finish early or go the distance. From UFC/FightMetric.
15:00
Team Oyama
Team
Niagara Top Team

Career stats per UFC.com; recent form is each fighter's last five bouts. Record is as of fight night; career stats, recent form and win totals are the latest on file and may include this fight. Bars compare each stat on a fixed scale; the “Edge” marker flags the leading corner where the gap is meaningful. The snapshot plots five career rates — output, striking defense, durability (strikes absorbed, inverted), takedown defense and finish rate — each normalised on its own scale.

Videos

Outcome footage, post-fight coverage, and the pre-fight lead-up.

After the fight
Post-fight fighter interview▶ Octagon interview

Comments

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Who Called It?

How the analysts' picks held up once the cage door closed.

Bedtime MMA
Hear it — 0:32

Current pick evidence

Picked: Ding Meng · KO/TKO

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Ding Meng for a knockout, placing it around the round-one/round-two boundary.

“I'm going to go with Ding Mang to win, probably by knockout. Late first, early second.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 70.8% 121 50
  • Method Accuracy 62.9% 56 33
  • Round Accuracy 38.5% 10 16
  • Underdog Accuracy 48.5% 16 17
View full track record (171 calls)
AJ Devito
Hear it — 5:13

Current pick evidence

Picked: Ding Meng

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Ding Meng for the win; mentions knockout, but says decision is live.

“Ding Meng for the win. We'll say knockout, but decision is live, too.”

* Says a decision remains live.

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 69.6% 165 72
  • Method Accuracy 58.4% 59 42
  • Round Accuracy 75.0% 6 2
  • Underdog Accuracy 46.2% 12 14
View full track record (237 calls)
MMA Prediction Guru (MMAPG)
Hear it — 7:08

Current pick evidence

Picked: Ding Meng · Dec

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Ding Meng's experience to carry him to a decision.

“For my prediction, I'm going to take Ming Ding to win via decision here.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 59.4% 41 28
  • Method Accuracy 57.7% 15 11
  • Round Accuracy 12.5% 1 7
  • Underdog Accuracy 30.8% 4 9
View full track record (69 calls)
Half The Battle
Hear it — 35:58

Current pick evidence

Picked: Ding Meng

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Ding Meng for his first UFC win on experience.

“I'm going to pick Ming Deng to come out here, get that first UFC win.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 56.1% 55 43
  • Method Accuracy 71.4% 10 4
  • Round Accuracy 50.0% 1 1
  • Underdog Accuracy 26.1% 6 17
View full track record (98 calls)
TheWeasle
Hear it — 3:23

Current pick evidence

Picked: Cam Nelson · Sub · Round 2

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Cam Nelson by second-round submission.

“He is going to get that takedown, get his back, choke him out.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 70.6% 115 48
  • Method Accuracy 61.8% 47 29
  • Round Accuracy 36.5% 19 33
  • Underdog Accuracy 52.9% 9 8
View full track record (163 calls)
The MMA Guru
Hear it — 2:22

Current pick evidence

Picked: Cam Nelson

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Cam Nelson as an underdog without a stated method.

“I'm going to go with Cam Nelson getting this one done over Ding Mang.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 65.9% 203 105
  • Method Accuracy 52.8% 57 51
  • Round Accuracy 32.4% 12 25
  • Underdog Accuracy 47.2% 17 19
View full track record (308 calls)
JakeGerberMMA
Hear it — 6:17

Current pick evidence

Picked: Cam Nelson · Dec

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Cam Nelson by decision for his grappling control and ground-and-pound.

“Cam Nelson gets it done 29 to 28 on the cards.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 65.4% 83 44
  • Method Accuracy 60.4% 29 19
  • Round Accuracy 44.4% 4 5
  • Underdog Accuracy 30.0% 3 7
View full track record (127 calls)
DFS By The Numbers
Hear it — 11:12

Current pick evidence

Picked: Cam Nelson

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Cam Nelson on the strength of his hands and power against Ding Meng's defence.

“I'm actually going to take Cam Nelson.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 64.4% 94 52
  • Method Accuracy 58.5% 48 34
  • Round Accuracy 35.9% 14 25
  • Underdog Accuracy 35.0% 7 13
View full track record (146 calls)
We Want Picks
Hear it — 8:49

Current pick evidence

Picked: Cam Nelson

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Cam Nelson to counter Ding Meng's pressure with wrestling and control.

“Takedown, and win this fight. So, Cam Nelson is the pick.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 64.1% 93 52
  • Method Accuracy 40.0% 2 3
  • Round AccuracyNo qualifying picks
  • Underdog Accuracy 34.5% 10 19
View full track record (145 calls)
HopperMMA
Hear it — 1:55

Current pick evidence

Picked: Cam Nelson · Dec

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Cam Nelson by decision.

“I'm going to go Cam Nelson by decision.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 63.6% 77 44
  • Method Accuracy 64.6% 42 23
  • Round Accuracy 47.2% 17 19
  • Underdog Accuracy 26.3% 5 14
View full track record (121 calls)

Analyst picks: Bedtime MMA Miss; TheWeasle Hit; AJ Devito Miss; The MMA Guru Hit; JakeGerberMMA Hit; DFS By The Numbers Hit; We Want Picks Hit; HopperMMA Hit; MMA Prediction Guru (MMAPG) Miss; Half The Battle Miss.

Analyst prediction scorecards
Expand row
Bedtime MMA171 resolved calls
Bedtime MMA
Hear it — 0:32

Current pick evidence

Picked: Ding Meng · KO/TKO

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Ding Meng for a knockout, placing it around the round-one/round-two boundary.

“I'm going to go with Ding Mang to win, probably by knockout. Late first, early second.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 70.8% 121 50
  • Method Accuracy 62.9% 56 33
  • Round Accuracy 38.5% 10 16
  • Underdog Accuracy 48.5% 16 17
View full track record (171 calls)
Ding · KO/TKONelson · Dec R3MissNot applicable — the winner call missedNot applicable — the winner call missed
TheWeasle163 resolved calls
TheWeasle
Hear it — 3:23

Current pick evidence

Picked: Cam Nelson · Sub · Round 2

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Cam Nelson by second-round submission.

“He is going to get that takedown, get his back, choke him out.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 70.6% 115 48
  • Method Accuracy 61.8% 47 29
  • Round Accuracy 36.5% 19 33
  • Underdog Accuracy 52.9% 9 8
View full track record (163 calls)
Nelson · Sub · R2Nelson · Dec R3HitMissMiss
AJ Devito237 resolved calls
AJ Devito
Hear it — 5:13

Current pick evidence

Picked: Ding Meng

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Ding Meng for the win; mentions knockout, but says decision is live.

“Ding Meng for the win. We'll say knockout, but decision is live, too.”

* Says a decision remains live.

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 69.6% 165 72
  • Method Accuracy 58.4% 59 42
  • Round Accuracy 75.0% 6 2
  • Underdog Accuracy 46.2% 12 14
View full track record (237 calls)
Ding · to winNelson · Dec R3MissNot applicable — the winner call missedNot applicable — the winner call missed
The MMA Guru308 resolved calls
The MMA Guru
Hear it — 2:22

Current pick evidence

Picked: Cam Nelson

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Cam Nelson as an underdog without a stated method.

“I'm going to go with Cam Nelson getting this one done over Ding Mang.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 65.9% 203 105
  • Method Accuracy 52.8% 57 51
  • Round Accuracy 32.4% 12 25
  • Underdog Accuracy 47.2% 17 19
View full track record (308 calls)
Nelson · to winNelson · Dec R3HitNot calledNot called
JakeGerberMMA127 resolved calls
JakeGerberMMA
Hear it — 6:17

Current pick evidence

Picked: Cam Nelson · Dec

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Cam Nelson by decision for his grappling control and ground-and-pound.

“Cam Nelson gets it done 29 to 28 on the cards.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 65.4% 83 44
  • Method Accuracy 60.4% 29 19
  • Round Accuracy 44.4% 4 5
  • Underdog Accuracy 30.0% 3 7
View full track record (127 calls)
Nelson · DecNelson · Dec R3HitHitNot called
DFS By The Numbers146 resolved calls
DFS By The Numbers
Hear it — 11:12

Current pick evidence

Picked: Cam Nelson

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Cam Nelson on the strength of his hands and power against Ding Meng's defence.

“I'm actually going to take Cam Nelson.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 64.4% 94 52
  • Method Accuracy 58.5% 48 34
  • Round Accuracy 35.9% 14 25
  • Underdog Accuracy 35.0% 7 13
View full track record (146 calls)
Nelson · to winNelson · Dec R3HitNot calledNot called
We Want Picks145 resolved calls
We Want Picks
Hear it — 8:49

Current pick evidence

Picked: Cam Nelson

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Cam Nelson to counter Ding Meng's pressure with wrestling and control.

“Takedown, and win this fight. So, Cam Nelson is the pick.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 64.1% 93 52
  • Method Accuracy 40.0% 2 3
  • Round AccuracyNo qualifying picks
  • Underdog Accuracy 34.5% 10 19
View full track record (145 calls)
Nelson · to winNelson · Dec R3HitNot calledNot called
HopperMMA121 resolved calls
HopperMMA
Hear it — 1:55

Current pick evidence

Picked: Cam Nelson · Dec

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Cam Nelson by decision.

“I'm going to go Cam Nelson by decision.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 63.6% 77 44
  • Method Accuracy 64.6% 42 23
  • Round Accuracy 47.2% 17 19
  • Underdog Accuracy 26.3% 5 14
View full track record (121 calls)
Nelson · DecNelson · Dec R3HitHitNot called
MMA Prediction Guru (MMAPG)69 resolved calls
MMA Prediction Guru (MMAPG)
Hear it — 7:08

Current pick evidence

Picked: Ding Meng · Dec

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Ding Meng's experience to carry him to a decision.

“For my prediction, I'm going to take Ming Ding to win via decision here.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 59.4% 41 28
  • Method Accuracy 57.7% 15 11
  • Round Accuracy 12.5% 1 7
  • Underdog Accuracy 30.8% 4 9
View full track record (69 calls)
Ding · DecNelson · Dec R3MissNot applicable — the winner call missedNot applicable — the winner call missed
Half The Battle98 resolved calls
Half The Battle
Hear it — 35:58

Current pick evidence

Picked: Ding Meng

Fight result: Cam Nelson · Decision

Picks Ding Meng for his first UFC win on experience.

“I'm going to pick Ming Deng to come out here, get that first UFC win.”

Analyst track record Track record countsWinner counts resolved calls. Method and Round count only after a correct winner call. Underdog counts picks for a strict underdog in frozen pre-fight odds.Methodology

  • Winner Accuracy 56.1% 55 43
  • Method Accuracy 71.4% 10 4
  • Round Accuracy 50.0% 1 1
  • Underdog Accuracy 26.1% 6 17
View full track record (98 calls)
Ding · to winNelson · Dec R3MissNot applicable — the winner call missedNot applicable — the winner call missed

6 of 10 called the winner.

The experts above are a lens, not credentials we conferred — analyst, fighter or betting desk.

No AI predictions are available for this fight yet.

No market odds are available for this fight yet.

Independent fan-made fight recap. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the UFC or any other MMA promotion. Analysis is editorial opinion, not betting advice. Fighter names and records are used for commentary. Image credits · Methodology · Privacy · Terms.